THE wait is over – the new John Lewis at Home store is opening in Poole on Thursday at 10am.

Anticipation reached fever pitch this week according to new branch manager James Prince who said staff had to turn away queues forming at the doors each morning.

And more than 100 over-eager shoppers have even been ushered out from inside the store after making their way in through the staff entrance.

James added: “Every person I’ve spoken to has been looking forward to the John Lewis opening – that tells us we’re opening in exactly the right market and exactly the right area. I’m just looking forward to getting open and greeting those people.”

The £6m new store in the former Courts building at the Commerce Centre retail park in Branksome has taken shape in just five months and is a first for John Lewis.

A third of the size of a full department store it will stock home wares only. But eight computer terminals in store will allow customers to browse the whole John Lewis range and order goods direct to their homes – or to the store for next day collection.

The Echo got a sneak preview of the 40,000 square foot selling space, with shelves laden with tantalisingly shiny stock ranging from electronics to furniture, kitchenware to linens.

The impressive wall of televisions, the lighting corner with more than 750 types of light and the sleek 73-seat café were particularly eye-catching.

Tim Harrison, head of format development, said all eyes would be on the Poole over the next few weeks. If it’s a success the format could be rolled out at locations across the country.

He added: “I certainly see this as the direction of travel. How much we will tweak it I don’t know – the customer reaction will tell us a lot.”

The grand opening will be on Thursday at 10am when children from Branksome Heath Middle school will cut the ribbon and let the first customers stream in.

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